Process and means for producing double-faced jewels consisting of differently coloured elements

ABSTRACT

Process for making jewels such as necklaces, bracelets or the like with differerent colors on at least two of their faces in sight so that a user can choose to put on the necklace or jewel so as to show one face or the other of the jewel according to the wished color, for instance the user can show a white gold face or a yellow gold face.  
     In general, the process in question consists of a first phase in which noble metal bands ( 3, 4 ) showing different colors are put near each other. Then, the bands ( 3, 4 ) are coupled by welding ( 6 ) and are subjected to a second working phase in which they are bent and welded longitudinally so as to obtain a pipe ( 19 ) showing a multiple color.  
     From this pipe ( 19 ) it is possible to obtain hollow links to be then mounted and fixed on a flexible core.

[0001] The present invention proposes a process and the relative means for making double-faced jewels consisting of differently coloured elements on both opposite sides.

[0002] This process permits to obtain jewels such as necklaces, bracelets or the like with different colours on at least two of their faces in sight so that a user can choose to put on the necklace or jewel so as to show one face or the other of the jewel according to the wished colour, for instance the user can show the white gold face or the yellow gold face of the jewel.

[0003] Thus, the realization of the process according to the present invention permits to obtain a very advantageous result although it is not conceptually new in the jeweller's art: it is the result of using double-faced jewels which are completely made of precious solid metal and not simply covered as in the known solutions.

[0004] As is known, in the jeweller's art several processes are used to produce necklaces, bracelets and jewels of any kind.

[0005] One of such jewels has recently interested the purchasers a great deal and is now in great demand: it is the hollow necklace or bracelet, that is a jewel in which its chain is formed by a succession of links which are essentially cylindrical and are in general flattened and show an elliptic section. These links are put near each other on a flexible core.

[0006] This particular type of chain is fit for several variants and appliances such as the insert composition and setting, the application and realization of decorations and ornaments, the gold covering of both opposite sides with bands showing different colour tonalities, for instance white and yellow gold bands, so as to obtain double-faced hollow necklaces.

[0007] In this way, an original chromatic effect is obtained and the purchaser can choose to put on the necklace in order to show one coloured face or the other, the visual effect being thus different each time.

[0008] However, the use of that kind of jewels has given rise to some drawbacks. The main drawback refers to the kind of working to be effected.

[0009] In general, this kind of working consists in rolling processes or covering processes in which a base support is covered with gold foils or foils made of other metals showing different colours, usually two colours.

[0010] This kind of working involves some practical drawbacks relating to a certain difficulty in the production and above all, to a rapid deterioration of the jewel.

[0011] As a matter of fact, the jewel can be subjected to scratches, signs or the like that provoke a partial removal of the covering with all the evident consequences.

[0012] The aim of the present invention is to conceive a new working process for producing hollow double-faced necklaces, not by covering a base material but by coupling precious metal parts showing different colours or precious metal parts having different compositions.

[0013] After suitable working and bending processes, such parts form a pipe from which it is possible to obtain single metal links showing two or more colours. The single metal links showing two or more colours are mounted on a flexible core and form either chains or necklaces or bracelets, all of them being double faced, i.e. they show different colours on their sides.

[0014] Any of the above mentioned objects and advantages is achieved according to the present invention through a process and the relevant means for producing double-faced jewels, characterized by a first phase in which precious metal bands having different colours are placed side by side and are coupled by welding and a second phase in which the resulting double precious metal band showing two colours is subjected to a bending process and longitudinal welding in order to obtain a pipe showing different colours from which it is possible to obtain pipe links which are to be mounted and fixed on a flexible core.

[0015] Further features and details of the invention can be better understood from the following specification given as a non-exclusive example with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of apparatus for performing a first working;

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of apparatus for performing a second working.

[0018] With reference to the accompanying drawing, number 1 refers on the whole to an example of machine for effecting a first phase of the process according to the present invention in which two or more metal bands of different colours are put near each other.

[0019] In the present solution, two metal bands are put near each other and placed side by side. However, more metal bands can be used depending on the visual effect to be achieved.

[0020] In the present case, the machine 1 receives two metal bands 3, 4 placed side by side and showing different colours, for instance one white gold band and one yellow gold band.

[0021] Both metal bands 3, 4 are inserted in the front side of a shoe 2.

[0022] Then, both bands pass through drawing rollers 5, are subjected to a welding process in which their connection line is welded by means of a welding element such as a torch 6.

[0023] A good welding can be obtained by having the pair of bands passed on a supporting roller 7 which is adjustable in relation to an upper fixed countershoe 8.

[0024] Then, the bands welded along the connection line pass through further extraction rollers 9 which drag out the welded bands which form an only piece showing two colours, as represented in 10.

[0025] Now, this piece can be processed to obtain a hollow two-colour pipe.

[0026] A two-colour hollow pipe can be produced with a machine as represented in 11 (FIG. 2) or other suitable machines.

[0027] Then, the two-colour band 10 passes through pairs of rollers 12-17 which effect a progressive shaping.

[0028] The rollers have suitable shaped profiles which allow the band to be bent and welded along the line to be connected. The final welding is executed by means of a welding torch 18.

[0029] The finished product consists of a pipe 19 which shows a longitudinal double chromatic effect and is formed by the parts 20 and 21.

[0030] As said before, the pipe 19 is sectioned in several single metal links which can show two or more colours.

[0031] Then, the links are mounted on a flexible core and can form double-faced chains, necklaces or bracelets having sides with different colours.

[0032] As said before, the number of the metal bands to be placed side by side can be whatever although the double-faced effect can be obtained just with two bands.

[0033] A technician of this field can carry out other types of machines for the same purpose, for instance a machine with an only working line and obtain solutions to be considered as included in the scope of protection of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. Process and means for producing double-faced jewels such as chains, necklaces, bracelets or the like, characterized by a first phase in which precious metal bands (3, 4) having different colours are placed side by side and are coupled by welding and a second phase in which the resulting double precious metal band (10) showing two colours is subjected to a bending process and longitudinal welding in order to obtain a pipe (19) showing different colours from which it is possible to obtain pipe links which are to be mounted and fixed on a flexible core.
 2. Process and means as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that for the connection of two or more metal bands (3, 4) showing different colours in the first working phase, a machine (1) is used to receive two precious metal bands (3, 4) placed side by side and showing different colours, for instance one white gold band and one yellow gold band and to subject them to a welding process for the fusion of their corresponding borders by means of a welding instrument such as a torch (6) or the like.
 3. Process and means as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the aforesaid bands, which have been welded along their connection line, pass through further extraction rollers (9) or the like which drag out the welded bands which form an only piece (10) showing two colours.
 4. Process and means as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the aforesaid band (10), which can show two or more colours, passes through pairs of rollers (12-17) which effect a progressive shaping and have suitable shaped profiles which allow the band (10) to be bent and welded along the line to be connected by means of a welding torch (18) in order to form a double-faced pipe (19).
 5. Process and means as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said pipe (19) is then sectioned in several single metal links showing two or more colours which are mounted on a flexible core and form either chains or necklaces or bracelets, all of them being double-faced, i.e. they show different colours on their sides. 